Expect blackouts this summer

Israel has few electric reserves and power shortages are probable during the upcoming summer months, experts from the Israel Electric Corporation warned Monday.

Yiftah Ron-Tal, the IEC’s director, explained that reserves were low because of the high prices of coal and oil in addition to the drop in natural gas imported from Egypt.

The electric company ran a drill on Monday to test the readiness of the the national grid for the summer and to ascertain the company’s ability to initiate power outages in case of a grid overload.

In a press statement the company said the ongoing simulation is expected to last all week.

According to a report on Israel Radio, the Israel Electric Corporation is preparing a detailed plan on how to cut power temporarily to certain areas of the country when needed. The plan would include taking neighborhoods off the grid for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, officials said.

Speaking to Army Radio, Ron-Tal said planners at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources were thinking of ways to prevent power shortages, including reducing prices late at night — a move meant to ease the pressure during peak hours.

Electricity can be provided to specific houses where there is a medical need even if the neighborhood’s grid is down, experts speaking to both radio stations said.